SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though Deterministic had won his first two starts on dirt, including the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, Miguel Clement was curious to see how the horse would move on the turf. One day, in early 2024 at Payson Park, Clement let Deterministic gallop in the infield. “He moved like a dream,” said Clement, who was working as an assistant to his father, Christophe. But the horse was preparing for the Wood Memorial and a potential shot at running in the Kentucky Derby. Miguel Clement didn’t say anything. “There’s no chance after he won the Gotham, ‘Hey he actually moved remarkably well on the grass,’ ” Miguel Clement said. “Dad was already stereotyped and labeled as a turf trainer, so if I said that after the Gotham and before running in the Kentucky Derby potentially, it would have been the end of us. I kept my mouth shut.” After poor performances in the Wood Memorial and Peter Pan made running in a Triple Crown race unrealistic, Deterministic was moved to the grass. Sunday at Saratoga, Deterministic became a Grade 1 winner on turf when he wired the Manhattan, holding off a late charge from Integration to win by a head. It was his fourth graded stakes win on turf, first in a Grade 1. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports The victory was Miguel Clement’s first in a Grade 1 stakes. He has been the head trainer of the stable for two weeks, since the passing of his father on May 24 due to cancer. All four of Deterministic’s wins have come at 1 1/8 miles. The Manhattan was shortened to that distance from 1 3/16 miles to accommodate it being moved from the Mellon to the inner turf course. New York racing officials wanted to run just one race on each turf course and had to run the Grade 1 Jaipur on the Mellon because that’s the only course that can accommodate the 5 1/2-furlong distance. With the option of cutting back or stretching out, Deterministic will most likely be pointed to races at one mile, Clement said. Races like the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 2 and/or the Woodbine Mile in September are possible summer targets. “With the way he won yesterday, I know it was a mile and an eighth and he was twice dazzling at mile and an eighth, I’m more inclined to bring him back to a mile,” Clement said. “Especially with the removal of Carl Spackler, you have to toy with the idea of the big summer goals being the Woodbine Mile or Fourstardave. Let’s reassess, speak to the connections, and come up with a plan.” The win improved Deterministic’s record to 6-3-1 from 12 starts and pushed his career earnings to $1,576,015. Deterministic earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the Manhattan. Clement said he wasn’t all that disappointed with Far Bridge’s third-place finish, noting that the shortened distance to nine furlongs may have worked against him. Far Bridge had won four of his last five starts – including the Grade 1 Sword Dancer and Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – at distances from 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  “I thought he was the most hindered by the distance change,” Clement said. “He was very unlucky without a doubt. I think he’s the best turf stayer in the country.” Clement said Far Bridge would target the $750,000 Sword Dancer, a race typically run on Travers Day, but this year scheduled two weeks earlier on Aug. 9. Carson’s Run finished a disappointing seventh in the Manhattan, and Clement said he is trying to assess the reason for that poor performance. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.